The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Iowa
No. 3 Baseball completes doubleheader sweep of Iowa with 5-2 win
03.13.2010 | Baseball
March 13, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. Texas Longhorns' three-run second inning was the difference in a 5-2 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas (12-3) took the lead in the second and never looked back. Trailing 2-1, Brandon Loy doubled off the left field wall to start the inning, stole third and tagged up on a Cohl Walla sacrifice fly to centerfield to tie the game at 2-2. With two outs, Jordan Weymouth walked and Tant Shepherd put a pair of runners in scoring position with a double down the leftfield line. Jordan Etier hit a soft bouncer between the mound and the third baseline and Iowa's starting pitcher Zach Kenyon made an errant throw to first allowing Weymouth and Shepherd to score for the 4-2 lead.
Iowa (4-8) scored only in the first inning for the third straight game against the Longhorns. Kurtis Muller singled to rightfield and stole second. With the hit-and-run on, Ryan Durant singled to shallow left scoring Muller. Dallas Burke singled through the right side to put runners on the corners and Durant came around to score on a Phil Keppler ground out to the pitcher for the 2-0 lead.
Texas answered quickly with a run of its own in the bottom of the first. Shepherd was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw to second by the catcher. Cameron Rupp hit a hard grounder to shortstop to plate Shepherd and trim the lead to 2-1.
The Longhorns manufactured another run in the sixth. Loy doubled to left centerfield and stole third. Weymouth walked to put runners on the corners and with two outs Shepherd singled through the left side scoring Loy for the 5-2 lead.
Brandon Workman (2-1) was credited with the win giving up two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight in 6.2 innings. Chance Ruffin got his fifth save of the season as he entered the game with two on and no outs in the top of the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, including one on a strikeout.
Kenyon (0-1) was saddled with the loss giving up five runs, three earned, on six hits and two walks while striking out six in 5.2 innings.
Loy batted 3-for-3 with one walk, two runs, two doubles and three stolen bases. Shepherd went 2-for-4 with one double, one hit-by-pitch, one RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base.
Texas returns to action at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon against the Iowa Hawkeyes at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Coach Augie Garrido
On the two games today: The survivor instinct is alive and well. I thought in both games we competed really well. I thought we took a lot of good at-bats. We played a lot of people. We got to look at some people that we think might be able to help us, so a lot was accomplished today. They (Iowa) are a good team. They've got a good, well-structured team. They've got a good defensive infield and the outfielders made some great catches."
On Brandon Loy: He looked a lot better and more comfortable in the sixth position. I think at the top of the lineup he felt a lot more pressure to do a lot more things. He has always driven in runs better than anything else. He has always been a tougher out with runners in scoring position. The batting order also disguises his speed and they pay less attention to him because he is not a 1 or 2 guy and that seemed to loosen him up a little. He played very well offensively.
On Brandon Workman: I thought what Workman did was really good because he had a brilliant game last time and he lost the game. Today it wasn't as easy for him and he had to manage his mind and came out of it and putting himself back in the game. This is the best he has ever done of pulling himself back into it after it has come unraveled."
Brandon Loy
On his performance: I feel like I have been swinging well lately and I know it was just a matter of time until they started falling. I was confident all day long and they happened to fall for me this time and hopefully they will keep coming.
On batting in the six spot: I feel comfortable anywhere he puts me. Then again, if I can have a day like I did today in the six spot, I'd love to be there every day.
